Kim Shillinglaw
[4] After her graduation, she worked in strategy and the music industry then joined Observer Films (for a time part of the Guardian Media Group) as a researcher, eventually becoming a series producer.
[6] Shillinglaw was responsible for changing the original pitch, a long-form drama idea about a ghost train, into a comedy proposal based on sketches with contemporary references to popular culture.
[7] Working under Karen O'Connor from late 2007, she then became one of 10 "creative leads" in London Factual[8] and Executive Produced the Bafta-nominated Chemistry: A Volatile History[9] with Jim Al Khalili, Blood and Guts with Michael Mosley and The Incredible Human Journey with Alice Roberts.
[11] She increased the number of natural history hours produced by the BBC, including new landmarks [12] Frozen Planet, Africa, Hidden Kingdoms, Dynasties and The Hunt (2015 TV series).
[18] She commissioned popular science series including Stargazing Live, which won its slot against drama on BBC One,[19] Brian Cox's Wonders of the Universe, Trust Me I'm a Doctor, Supermarket Secrets,[20] Bang Goes the Theory.
The Times included Shillinglaw in a list of the top 100 influential people in British science, observing her role promoting more female presenters onto screen, as well as introducing Brian Cox to television.
[34] Shillinglaw brought more diversity to screen, including Liz Bonin, Kevin Fong, Helen Czerski, Gabrielle Weston, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Hannah Fry, and Saleyha Asan, among others.
She ran experimentation with VR, AR and 3D for The BBC, including 3D versions of Dr Who, Wimbledon and David Attenborough, and was quoted as saying "watching 3D is quite a hassly experience in the home".
[41] The project was backed by around fifty organisations, including ARM, Barclays, British Computing Society, BT, the DWP, Microsoft, the Skills Funding Agency and Tech City UK.
Roly Keating, former BBC2 Controller and Chief Executive of the British Library, described Shillinglaw as "creative, sharp and decisive, with a serious track record of bringing complex ideas to mainstream audiences".
New programmes included the multi-award winning Mum, by writer Stefan Golaszewski, the UK's first transgender comedy Boy Meets Girl,[71][72][73] Lets Play Darts for Comic Relief[74] with Richard Osman, and Upstart Crow by Ben Elton.
In 2015 BBC Two won more RTS awards than any other UK channel,[80][50] increased its peak time share of viewers[81] and significantly grew its digital and social activity.
[81] In 2015 Shillinglaw was nominated as a Red Magazine Woman of the Year for "consistently bringing fresh ideas and a contemporary edge to BBC Two by commissioning shows that change the way we think and feel",[82] and named as one of the most influential people in British media by the Radio Times.
[2] She is reported to have executed substantial restructuring within the group, including hiring new managing directors[88][89] for several companies, merging or rebranding other businesses, and opening new offices in Belfast, Manchester and Leeds.
[90] She increased the number of returning franchises with global sales potential and in 2018 and 2019 several companies reporting to her were named best places to work in TV by industry bible Broadcast.
